The Top 40: A Traditional Catholic Reading List

Editor’s note: Over the years, we’ve often received requests for a Tradition-friendly reading list to deepen Catholics’ knowledge of and sophistication on the Faith. As our list of books to read and recommend grows, so does our list of tasks, and so the reading list had to hit the back burner – which is why we are grateful to Whispers of Restoration for doing the work for us, and for graciously allowing us to provide the list here.

You can find the original post explaining the origins of this list here. The full rrecommended reading list is below, including some brief descriptions and a few rating criteria such that readers might make more informed choices on where to start digging. Though it is impossible for such a list to be comprehensive, we believe it’s a great start for those interested in deepening their knowledge of Catholic tradition and the drastic changes the Church endured during the 20th century. You can also find this reading list at any time in the 1P5 navigation bar at the top under “resources”. Where possible, we have provided links to purchase the books in their titles.

Deeply theological and historical work examining the nature of organic development in Catholic Liturgy as guided by the Holy Spirit over centuries – shows why the Novus Ordo is not an organic development.

From his liberal-leaning theological beginnings as a young priest to his mysterious resignation as Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger will doubtless be remembered as one of the more enigmatic figures in papal history. Regardless, his contribution to the recovery of sacred liturgy is unmistakable, and his thought well worth reading on the subject.